British Guiana Philately

Introduction
Postmarks
Post Offices

British Guiana Post Offices: T.P.O. Massaruni Steamer

Massaruni Steamer

The Massaruni Steamer Traveling Post Office was established aboard the Bartica Grove Steamer on February 16, 1886, as per an official Gazette Notice. The service was initially described as “Mails for Penal Settlement, Massaruni, and Bartica Grove,” with deliveries made to residents between Tuschen and the Penal Settlement, along with other regular postal duties. The operation continued until sometime between November 1899 and 1901, when it was presumably discontinued.

The following are the Date Stamps used at T.P.O. Massaruni Steamer with EKD prior to 22 January 1901, the day marking the end of the reign of Queen Victoria. In addition to listing the Panda Type #, for reference, we also list the T&H Type from The Postage Stamps and Postal History of British Guiana by Townsend & Howe, the Type and referenced page from The Postal History of British Guiana by Edward B. Proud, and the referenced pages from British Guiana Coded Postmarks – Study paper No 3 by Michael Rego, for code-marks.

Type E4.17
(T&H Type 3, S)
Type E17.1
(T&H Type TPO-4, S)


→ Panda Type # E  4. 1 7 -T.P.O. Massaruni Steamer

T&H – TPO Type 3 p. 380 ; Proud – Massaruni Steamer D2 pp. 297-298

EKD: Mar 1885 / LKD: 12 Oct 1900

The T.P.O. Massaruni Steamer Circular Date Stamp (C.D.S) is a Panda Type E5 postmark.  The Panda Type E5 is Double Ring (D.R.), 22.5-24mm, 2 line date (2 L.D.) with year abbreviated (Y.A.).  Colony not shown.

The Panda Type E4.17 is cataloged as a TPO Type 3 and is listed as “Scarce” in The Postage Stamps and Postal History of British Guiana by Townsend & Howe.

1887 – From the Panda Collection
1892– From the Panda Collection
1900– From the Panda Collection


→ Panda Type # E  1 7. 1 -T.P.O. Massaruni Steamer

T&H – TPO Type 4 p. 380 ; Proud – Massaruni Steamer D3 pp. 297-298

EKD: 4 Apr 1892 / LKD: 5 Sep 1897

The T.P.O. Massaruni Steamer Circular Date Stamp (C.D.S) is a Panda Type E17 postmark.  The Panda Type E17 is Double Ring (D.R.) 25 mm with T.P.O. at top and office at bottom separated by dividing dots. 2 L.D. with Y.A.

The Panda Type E17.1 is cataloged as a TPO Type 4 and is listed as “Scarce” in The Postage Stamps and Postal History of British Guiana by Townsend & Howe.

1897 – From the Panda Collection